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How to play solitaire in this game?
I still didn't learn much about the game, just bought on sale year ago. What does it mean to play solitaire in this game?
Play both sides by yourself. Or only play one side (and what about other side without AI).

You play both sides.

[:(]

ORIGINAL: ERA101
What does it mean to play solitaire in this game?
Play both sides by yourself. Or only play one side (and what about other side without AI).

I had the same question when I bought the game.

The answer is yes, you can play both sides. When you start a new game you will see a SET MODE OF PLAY window. The options are Solitaire (playing both sides), Hot Seat (head to head) or Internet.

Choose the solitaire option obviously to play both sides.

Most recommend playing the 'Fast Start Barbarossa' game first and that's what I did. This is a saved game and it's already set up for solitaire play so you just plunge straight in.

ORIGINAL: ERA101

How to play solitaire in this game?
I still didn't learn much about the game, just bought on sale year ago. What does it mean to play solitaire in this game?
Play both sides by yourself. Or only play one side (and what about other side without AI).

There is still no AI opponent coded into the game. However, given that there's no hidden information in the game (unless I'm missing something somewhere), it's pretty straightforward to play it solitaire. I won't make jokes about dissociative personality disorder, but I think most people who play wargames solitaire can generally look at either side of the board and tune out the other side when they're playing one side. I guess that also makes playing a human opponent easier, for that matter, if you can put yourself in their shoes.

I have mixed feelings about AI in wargames. A lot of the time, due to the complexity and options most strategy/wargames have, plus the difficulty in programming AI (speaking from experience), it is often beyond the skill set of most developers, except on a rudimentary basis. For that matter, even the bigger names suffer from mediocre AI at best (looking at you, Hearts of Iron IV). On the other hand, it does make a good sparring partner if done well. I know some people, including myself, were disappointed at the lack of AI in MWiF, but I have gotten to feel it's a decent tradeoff in return for not having to flip through rulebooks and finding a place to leave it set up for a couple of months. In addition, it offers somewhat better performance than the VASSAL module, at the cost of not having the America in Flames and Patton in Flames modules, as well as some optional rules.

Just some thoughts. I finally pulled it out this month after trying it some years ago and not understanding anything that was happening in the game. But this was after buying WiF:CE last year and having plenty of time to learn the game during covid.

You're right about AI opponents in wargames. It's a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, having a challenging AI can enhance the experience, providing a tough opponent to spar with. But on the other hand, as you mentioned, the complexity of these games often makes it difficult to create an AI that can truly compete at a high level. Personally, I've found solitaire gaming to be a great way to unwind and sharpen my skills without the pressure of competition. Plus, with the convenience of playing online, like with spider solitaire, it's easy to dive in whenever you have a spare moment. It's always interesting to hear different perspectives on gaming.